NASA Asteroid WatchVerified account

@AsteroidWatch

’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office detects, tracks, and characterizes Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) to enable mitigation of potential future NEO impacts.

Washington, D.C.
nasa.gov/planetarydefen…
Joined March 2009
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  1. 30 Dec 2021

    The movie “Don’t Look Up” is a fictional story about a doomsday comet, but ’s is a real spacecraft that will deflect a non-threatening asteroid as a test of . Hear from director Adam McKay as he compares the two.

    ‘Don’t Look Up’ Director Adam McKay Previews NASA’s DART Mission
    37 replies 222 retweets 1,290 likes
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  2. 22 Dec 2021

    .’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft has opened its “eye” and returned its first images from space — a major operational milestone for the spacecraft and team. Learn more:

    25 replies 195 retweets 959 likes
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  3. Retweeted
    21 Dec 2021

    ☄️ See comet come, see comet go. Only discovered in January 2021, Comet Leonard’s half-mile (1 km) mass of ice, rock, and space dust will make its closest pass of the Sun on Jan. 3, 2022 – a journey 40,000 years in the making:

    105 replies 1,357 retweets 7,463 likes
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  4. 10 Dec 2021

    Here at , we're on the job to find & track near-Earth objects…but have you ever wondered WHERE the known objects are? Through a new 3D real-time visualization tool, you can now explore asteroids and comets that approach Earth’s orbital neighborhood:

    47 replies 432 retweets 1,872 likes
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  5. Retweeted
    7 Dec 2021

    This morning, the ’s “eyes” opened successfully! The DRACO instrument was built by engineer Lisa Wu & her team. This high-res imager will support navigation & will measure the asteroid target. More from Lisa in the video below, plus first images coming soon!

    7 replies 42 retweets 196 likes
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  6. Retweeted
    6 Dec 2021

    As they track thousands of potentially hazardous asteroids, scientists have a new tool. Called , the system monitors potential impacts, taking into account the latest data from asteroid surveys and from missions such as .

    orbit diagram showing thousands of orbits of asteroids that intersect with Earth's orbit around the Sun
    and
    19 replies 82 retweets 366 likes
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  7. 3 Dec 2021

    Skywatching Tip: , discovered by member Greg Leonard while searching for near-Earth objects for , is predicted to peak at a brightness that will probably require binoculars to spot it. See when and where to look up:

    What's Up - December - Skywatching Tips from NASA
    6 replies 62 retweets 159 likes
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  8. Retweeted
    1 Dec 2021

    What do we know about the asteroids & comets in Earth's neighborhood? There are lots out there & NASA's on the hunt. Planetary defense — which includes finding, tracking & characterizing near-Earth objects — is part of our mission. Here's what we've found:

    Planetary Defense: By the Numbers - December 2021
    6 replies 48 retweets 182 likes
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  9. Retweeted
    24 Nov 2021

    Asteroids, comets, meteors: what's the difference? These fascinating space rocks are all unique and worthy of study. Just ask scientist Ryan Park and he'll agree. Here's more:

    50 replies 283 retweets 1,428 likes
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  10. 24 Nov 2021

    Asteroids have been hitting the Earth for billions of years. Now, we begin to make it stop. 's planetary defense test mission – the – has lifted off and is now on a journey to impact an asteroid in the fall of 2022. Read more:

    The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches with the DART spacecraft onboard from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
    and
    1,104 replies 2,349 retweets 15,295 likes
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  11. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    More updates will be available here, from , and at Learn more about DART, asteroids, and the science that is searching out their secrets:

    8 replies 100 retweets 384 likes
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  12. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    On our way! 55 minutes into its flight, the spacecraft has separated from the Falcon 9 second stage, and will soon begin to orient itself toward the Sun.

    Separation Confirmed
    110 replies 743 retweets 4,948 likes
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  13. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    Launch of the Falcon 9 carrying the DART spacecraft - starting a nearly one-year journey to crash into a distant asteroid as a test! Keep checking back for more images! More:

    , , and 4 others
    99 replies 815 retweets 7,192 likes
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  14. 23 Nov 2021

    And… liftoff! 🚀 The is now on a nearly one-year journey to crash into a distant asteroid as the world's first planetary defense test mission. Join us for the journey at

    0:30
    Asteroid Dimorphos: we're coming for you! Riding a Falcon 9 rocket, our blasted off at 1:21am EST (06:21 UTC), launching the world's first mission to test asteroid-deflecting technology.
    6 replies 80 retweets 355 likes
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  15. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    West Coast: If you have clear skies, you might see our & its rocket in the sky tonight. Our Double Asteroid Redirection Test is set to launch at 10:21 p.m. PT from in California. This chart shows when it may be visible. Let us know if you spot it!

    Visibility map showing locations along the west coast of the United States and Mexico and how many minutes they might see the DART launch, from 7 minutes nearest to Vandenberg Space Force Base down to one minute. Dotted line shows path of launch vehicle from Vandenberg above the Pacific Ocean.
    108 replies 488 retweets 3,029 likes
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  16. 23 Nov 2021

    Let's launch 's ! Live coverage of the world’s first planetary defense test mission starts now. Liftoff expected at 1:21am ET Nov. 24 (6:21 UTC).

    LIVE NOW: The is about to launch 🚀 This test is scheduled to lift off from at 1:21am ET (06:21 UTC) on its nearly one-year journey to crash into an asteroid. Send your questions with the hashtag .
    1 reply 26 retweets 85 likes
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  17. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    A little bit of free time before a launches the ? 🚀Print out our board 🎯 for your pre-launch activity!

    9 replies 120 retweets 689 likes
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  18. 23 Nov 2021

    It's for our ! The stage is set for the world’s first planetary defense test mission. • Live coverage at 12:30am ET Nov 24 (5:30 UTC). • Liftoff targeted for 1:21am ET Nov 24 (6:21 UTC).

    Launching Soon: NASA's First Asteroid Deflection Test
    On Nov. 24, 2021, our Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) spacecraft will lift off on a ten-month journey to crash into a distant asteroid – on purpose.
    5 replies 64 retweets 160 likes
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  19. 23 Nov 2021

    You may have heard the news. 's launching a spacecraft that will crash into an asteroid…on purpose. At 4pm ET, tune in to Live to learn all about the , our first planetary defense test mission: Questions? Use

    and
    7 replies 59 retweets 237 likes
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  20. Retweeted
    23 Nov 2021

    Ready for launch 🚀 The will demonstrate one method for deflecting an asteroid off a predicted impact course with Earth if one comes our way. Watch the historic launch 1:21am EST Wed, 24 Nov. If you're in the area, you could see DART depart!

    23 replies 304 retweets 1,017 likes
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